Steam-engine



(No Model.) l 3 sheets-sheet 1. H. BOLTHOFF.

STEAM ENGINE. No. 451,720. Patented May 5, 1891.

(No Model.) v3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. BOLTHOFI.

STEAM ENGINE.

No. 451,720. n Patented May 5,1891.

' 3 sheets-sheet 3. E. BOLTHOFP. STEAM ENGINE.

(No Model.)

E. E w

Patented May 5,1891.

/NV /V 0f? which are particularly pointed out and desvcitizen of the United States, residing at Den- UNITn-D STATES ATENT Fries;

HNRY BOLTHOFF, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

STEAM-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,720, dated May 5, 1891.

Application tiled December 9, 1890. Serial No. 374,013. (No model.)

To all whom, it may conccrt.-

Be it known that l, HENRY BOLTHOFF, a

ver, in the county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Out-Ott Valves for Steam-Fngines, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to that class of steamengines wherein the ordinary slide-valve is used; and my said invention consists of certain novel parts and combinations of parts ignated in the claims concluding this speci- Y cation.

An important feature of my invention is the provision whereby the ordinary slidevalve engine is made to operate automatically to regulate the speed of the engine aecording to the power required, and thereby effeet economy in the use of steam. Essentially this provision consists of the division of the ordinary slide-valve into separate parts operating independently ot' each other upon the same valve-face, driven by the same eccentric, and wherein two of the said valveparts are controlled by an independent motor to govern the quantity of steam required to do the work.

The multiple valve is operated as a unit with all its parts moving together and having parts operating independently and automatically in reverse reciprocal relation to out oli' the steam at the main ports of the cylinder Referring to the drawings, Figure l is avertical section taken through the valve-chest of a steam-engine, showing the multiple valve parts in the positions they occupy7 to admit the steam to the cylinder and the cut-off valve parts closed by the action of the independent motor when the engine is running light. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the multiple valve parts in the positions they occupy with all the valve parts full open at one end ofthe cylinder toadmit steam to the cylinder when the engine is working under full load. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line .fr .fr of Fig. 1. Fig. 4: is a transverse section taken on the line y fy ot' Fig. 1. Fig; 5 shows the multiple valve parts separated, and Fig. G shows the valve-chest ports.

In the drawings, A is the steam-cylinder,

D-valve preferably because it is the simplest known form of slide-valve, and in the example shown I construct it of three separate parts Jfor operating the ports as a unit. The center part a of the valve occupies the position or place of the ordinary slide-valve, While the other two independently-movable Valve parts b and c are arranged on each side of the center-valve part and are operated on the same ports to cut oft the steam atany given point of the stroke of the piston for the purpose of controlling the speed of the engine ac'- cording to the power required. The center valve part a is of the ordinary D slide-valve pattern to operate the ports C C D D` at both ends of the cylinder, but as a part of my improved multiple slide-valve it is only about one-fourth the width of such ordinary The object of thus reducing the width of this center valve part is for the pur-pose'of admitting only a sufcient quantity of steam to operate the engine when the cut-off valves are closed, and for the further purpose of admitting steam to the cylinder at its proper point and time of receiving the steam at each end of the stroke. This center valve part a has a constant and given stroke not subject to the control of the motor which is connected to and operates the independent valves b c, but is operated and controlled solely vby the eccentric. The independent valve parts are of greater width and of less length than-the center'valve part and are arranged to operate on the same seat and over the same ports as the center valve part, and are also arranged to be operated as parts of the center valve and by one and the same eccentric.

The center valve part has the usual valverod c and guide-bar f, the latter working in fixed. guide-boxes g g, and to this guide-bar f is pivoted a cross-head h, to the ends of which the cut-off-valve rods fi are jointed. An arm j extends from this cross-head h, so as to form a lever which is connected by a vertical rod ICO prefer to operate by steam for the purpose of operating the independent valve parts in a way which I shall presently describe. The center valve part guide-barf is connected to the eccentric n by the rod p, which is pivoted to said guide-bar, so that the eccentric thereby becomes the means of operating the several valve parts as a unit, while the lever crosshead h connection is permitted to give an independent movement to the independent valve parts and without interfering with the action of the regular slide-valve center part.

The motor above referred to, as shown,con-

sists of acylinder 1,havingapistonm,which,byV

its piston-rod Z, is connected, as stated, bythe rod lc to the cross-head lever j and a smaller cylinder 4, containin ga piston or plug valve 5, which is connected by a valve-rod 6 to a governor 7. These cylinders communicate by an inlet-port 8 and an exhaust-port 9 at the lower ends thereof, and which ports are controlled by the piston or plug valve to admit the live steam by the passage 10 and to exhaust by the passage 11. The governor maybe ofthe ball type, and it willbe understood that in this particular construction of steam-motor its piston is raised by steam and descends by its own gravity, assisted by weight or spring force. These forces may be used together or separately, and when used separately the spring 12 is secured to the iioor or engine-frame, and is connected to the lower end of the piston connecting-rod 7c by alink 13. W'hen weights are used, they are preferably placed upon the upper end of the piston-rod, as at 14. Vhile the employment of this force is primarily for effecting the quick descent of the piston to impart a quick action to the independent valve parts to maintain a uniform speed of the engine, yet this force is used as a means of changing the speed of the engine by increasing or decreasing the tension of the spring or increasing or diminishing the weight upon the piston-rod, as the engineer may desire. The motor is intended to be mounted and suitably supported upon the engine-frame. In the position shown in using the valves the center valve is supported by and slides upon the upper edge of the inner cut-off valve and upon a guide-rib q on the valve-seat. The outer or back cut-off valve is supported by and slides upon the center valve part, while the forward or inner cutoff valve is supported by and slides upon the bottom of the steam-chest or other suitable support. The valve parts, as Shown, are arranged to operate both as a unit and independent of each other, and they ride upon the same seat side by side, each valve covering its own receiving and exhaust ports, which are divided by longitudinal bridges, so that each valve covers one-half of the bridge and its own port.

In the operation of the engine itwill be seen that the eccentric operates positively and continuously all the valve parts when the engine is operating, and that when the valves are in the position shown in Fig. 1 the engine has attained its given speed and steam vis now entering only the forward end of the cylinder through the port C, which at this moment is opened, with the crank on the downward quarter-stroke toward the engine-cylinder. The crank, making a half-revolution, will reverse the movement of the valves and open port C', and these ports not being sufficiently large to supply the engine under a load and keep it up to its full speed it will thereby be slowed up for the want of a greater quantity 0f steam. This action of the engine will cause the governor to be correspondingly slowed, and thereby operate its'plug-valve, so as to close the receiving-port and open the exhaust, permitting the piston to descend and thereby vibrate the lever cross-head to operate the independent valve parts. The motor-piston descends by its own gravity, which is supplementedby the force of the spring or of the weight, or of both together. the piston depresses the cross-head lever and rocks the cross-head, thereby drawing the independent valves Z) and c toward each other, so as to first open the port C2, as seen in Fig. 2, the eccentric in the meantime moving the multiple valves as a unit toward the eccentric, and thereby quickly close the ports C and C2 and open the ports C and C3. 'These simultaneous movements of the valves independently of each other and together asa unit cause the independent valve parts to open their ports C2 and C3 alternately at each end ofY the stroke and the center valve part to open its ports C and C alternately at each end of the stroke. The movements which I have stated of the independent valve parts toward each other will continue during the descent of the piston and until the engine has attained its speed, and when this has taken place the governor-balls will be raised by the centrifugal force, causing the plug-valve to descend and close the exhaust-port and open the receiving-port and raise the piston,there by reversing the operation of the independent valve parts Z1 and c, moving them from each other for the purpose of admitting just steam enough into ports 7' and s to carry the load and to maintain a given speed of the engine. In this operation the center valve part acts at the same time to open its ports and is controlled solely by the eccentric, which constantly imparts its motion to all the valve parts to operate them as one valve. Vhile all the valve parts have an equal stroke from the eccentric, the independent valve parts have a relative lengthening and shortening stroke by the action of the lever crosshead, and it is this movement which produces the opening and closing of the ports, as the motor may be caused to act by the action of its governor. It is in this way that I make an automatic engine of the ordinary slidevalve type, and the construction by which I obtain this important advantage is such as to permit its application to slide-valve engines now in use.

The descent of IIO lVhile the spring or weight force supplements the weight of the piston to give it a quick descent, which is an important matter to transmit such movement to the independent valve parts, the spring is also important in maintaining a steady action of the piston while under -the pressure of the steam, and which would otherwise be liable to transmit a trembling or unsteady movement to the said valves. lVhile the three valve parts operate each as a cut-off and a receiving valve, yet two of these coacting valve parts-that is to say, the independent motor-controlled valve parts-act to cut off sooner or later, as the motor may determine, and thus keep the engine at a uniform speed under any given speed or load, while the eccentrically-operated valve part acts Y with an unchanging movement and uniform travel.

Each of the valve parts is formed with the usual D-exhaust for operating` the exhaustports D D D2 D3 in the usual way of the ordinary slide-valve.

I have stated that the motor-operated valve parts are wider and shorter than the center eccentric-operated valve part, and this is to obtain the advantage of compactness of the valves with comparatively wide side valves and long ports operated by them to admit of the passage of the full force and volume of steam from the steam-chest to the cylinder at the moment the ports are opened.

It is important to notice that the eccentric operates the multiple slide valve continuously as a unit, so that the action of the governor is at all times communicated to moving parts of the valve, and thereby is relieved Vfrom the strain which would be required to start such valve parts, and the advantage is enhanced because the governor may at any time cease to move the valves independently of the action of the eccentric, for when the load is constant and the steam regular in pressure the multiple valve under such conditions will not require change from the motor, and hence the latter will be practically inoperative in its functional relation to the valves; but when such functional relation is brought into action such action is directed to moving valve parts, so that the eccentric and the governor move and operate in harmony to produce an automatic slidevalve engine.

The passage 'u seen at the upper end of the motor-cylinder is for the purpose of permitting the outflow of the water which may accumulate in the cylinder above the piston from steam which may leak by the piston, and this water passing into the case of the plug --valve is permitted to pass therefrom through a central passage w in said valve to the exhaust, and thereby relieve the said piston from being impeded on its upstroke,which would result from such accumulation of water.

It is evident that immaterial departures may be permitted from the general construction and arrangement of parts contributing toward my invention, and for this reason I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself thereto in precise detail.

As to the matters of invention shown and described relating to the motor device for operating steam-valves, it forms the subject of a separate and distinct application iled by me of even date herewith under Serial No. 374,012, and is therefore not claimed herein.

I claim as my invention the following:

l. A multiple slide-valve forsteam-engines, the several valve parts whereof operate independently side by side upon the same valveseat and each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports, for the purpose stated.

2. A multiple slide-valve for steam-engines, the several parts whereof operate as a unit, yet independently of each other, side by side upon the same valve-seat, and each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports, for the purpose stated.

8. Y In a steam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three coacting parts arranged to operate as a unit, yet independently of each other. side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports,

, for the purpose stated.

4t. In a steam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three coacting parts arranged to operate as a unit, yet independently of each other, side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports, the center valve part having a length greater than that of the side-valve parts, for the purpose stated.

5. In a steam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three coacting parts arranged to operate side b y side as a unit upon the same valveseat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports, the center-valve part having a length greater than that of the side valve parts, which latter are operated with a movement toward and from each other, for the purpose stated.

6. In asteam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three coacting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports, the center-valve part having a length greater than that of the side-valve parts and a width less than that of the side-valve parts and operated as a unit by separate valve-rods, for the purpose stated.

7. In a steam-engine, a slide-valve composed ot' three independently operating coacting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust ports and operated as a unit by separate valve-rods, for the purpose stated.

S. Ina steam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three independentlycoacting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhausting ports and operated as a unit, the center-valve part having alength greater than that of the side-valve parts and formed IOO IIO

IZO

with a recess in its opposite sides to receive the said side-valve parts, for the purposes stated.

9. In a steam-engine, the combinatiomwith a multiple slide-valve the several parts whereof are arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat and each controlling its own receiving and exhausting ports, of a motor having a steam-actuated piston and suitable connections for said piston-rod, and valves for operating the same in the way and for the purpose stated.

10. In a steam-engine, the combination, with a slide-valve composed of three independently-coacting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhaust-ing ports and having a separate valve-rod, of a motor having a steam-actuated piston, a rod pivotally connected with said piston-rod, a rocking-lever cross-head jointed to said rod and to the side-valve-part rods and pivoted upon the guide-bar of the eccentric-connected valve part, and a governor-controlled valve for operating said motor-piston in the way and for the purpose described.

11. In a steam-engine, the combination, with a slide-valve composed of three independently-coacting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat, each controlling its own receiving and exhausting ports and having separate valve-rods, of a motor having a steam-actuated piston, suitable connections for said piston rod and valves, a force supplementing said piston and acting with a downward pressure, and a governor-eontrolled valve for operating said pis- 15. In a steam-engine, a multiple slide valve the several parts whereof are operated by separate valve-rod connections with a single operating-eccentric, substantially as described.

16. A slide-valve steam-engine constructed to operate automatically to regulate the speed according .to the power required, consisting, essentially, of the following elements, viz: a multiple slide-valve the several parts whereof are arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat and each controlling its own receiving and exhausting ports, an eccentric i'or operating said valves as a unit, a steam-actuated piston connected to operate two of said valve parts independent of said eccentric, aforce supplementing said piston acting with a downward pressure, and agevernor-controlled valve for operating said piston, substantially as described.

17. In a steam-engine, a slide-valve composed of three coaeting parts arranged to operate side by side upon the same valve-seat and having an equal stroke from their connected eccentric, the side valve parts having a relative lengthening and shortening stroke independent of the central-valve part, in combination with an independent steam-actuated piston device connected to said side valve parts for operating them in the way and for the purpose stated.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HENRY BOLTIIOFF.

-Witnesses:

D. E. I-I. JOHNSON, PHILIP F. LARNER. 

